The Role of Proteins in Older Adults' Malnutrition - Introduction

Older adults are one of the fastest-growing populations in the United States, representing more than 1 in every 6 Americans. Aging is associated with an increased risk for sarcopenia, obesity, and sarcopenic obesity, all of which may contribute to poorer quality of life. Among older adults, the prevalence of obesity is 36-43%, sarcopenia 10-27%, and sarcopenic obesity 10%.

This brochure provides a summary of Nestlé Health Sciences key nutritional supplements products.

A national, anonymous 33-item, online purpose-designed survey of GPs and Practice Nurses explores awareness and attitudes toward sarcopenia, and how clinicians play a role in its management. Barriers to effective implementation in primary practice are also identified and discussed.

A national, anonymous 41-question, online purpose-designed survey explores whteher older adults understand and value muscle health, tjheir avility to take action and overall knowledge and confidence to manage their health.

The MNA® (Mini Nutrition Assessment) tool was designed and validated in numerous studies in Europe and the U.S over the course of 5 years. At the publication date of this paper, the MNA® was utilised in over 2000 clinical research all over the world, ranging from community care to hospital settings. This paper reviews 30 years of clinical research and practice which has utilised the MNA® tool worldwide.

In this study by Kiesswetter E. et al. 2026, a network meta‑analysis compared oral nutrition interventions to determine which most effectively improve outcomes in malnourished hospitalised older adults.

Prof. Dr. Agathe Raynaud-Simon at the 44th Congress of the European Society of Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN), 2022. This lecture will focus on patient-related and intervention-related factors that influence compliance, recovery from malnutrition, and other clinical outcomes in older malnourished patients. 

Dr Karen Freijer presents at the 44th Congress of the European Society of Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN), 2022. During this session, the burden of disease related malnutrition – with a focus on older adults– together with cost savings of optimal nutrition intervention and the importance of nutrition economics, will be discussed. 

Prof. Leocadio Rodríguez Mañas presents at the 44th Congress of the European Society of Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN), 2022 on the role of nutritional status on function in older adults living in community, the role of key nutrients and effective interventions.

As part of the Satellite Symposium at 46th ESPEN Congress on Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism, Milano, Italy, Prof. Phillips discusses the importance of protein, specific amino acids and the role they play in muscle mass physiology.

MNA® (Mini Nutritional Assessment) is a validated nutrition screening/assessment tool to identify individuals 65 year and above who are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition. The online resource utilises a number of questions which patients answer and provides them with a score at the end in which they can determine what category they fit into whether they have: a normal nutritional status, at risk of malnutrition or malnourished.